Metal furniture



W. M ARTHUR METAL FURNITURE Filed July 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY-S Nov. 24', 1-942: 1,-

' -JMART METAL FURNITURE ri eduuu 11, 1939' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B a; Q

. ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. '24, 1 942 METAL FURNITURE Warren McArthur, New York, N.

Y., assignor to Warren McArthur Corporation, a corporation of- New York Application July 11, 1939, Serial No. 283,769

6 Claims.

This invention relates to metalfurniture and an object is to provide a seat or chair construction particularly adapted for use in public conveyances such, for example, as railroad passenger cars, motor buses, airplanes orthe like, although it invention are adapted to metal furniture generally.

In providing metal furniture for modern, highspeed trains, planes and the like, the question of weight is of primary importance, and a further object of this invention is to provide an article of the type set forth of greatly reduced weight without sacrificing comfort, durability or ruggedness of construction.

A further object is to provide a light weight article of metal furniture of the reclining seat type having an improved mechanism for locking the seat and back in the desired position.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are accomplished by the invention-illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an upholstered chair constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair frame .shownin Fig. 1 with the upholstery indicated in dotted lines;

Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, are views showing various details of construction; I

Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section of the seatlocking mechanism employed on. the chairs shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a similar of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views on the line |-l5 ofFig. '7 showing the operation of the seat-locking mechanism; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are views similar to Figs. '7 and 8 showing a modified construction.

The present invention is adapted to any form of seat construction. As shown in the drawings, it is embodied in an upholstered chair of the reclining seat type, the seat and back of which can be adjusted to various positions for sitting upright or for reclining at different angles.

Each side frame 20, as illustrated, is formed from a single tubular member preferably of alu-' minum, bent to provide a horizontal side frame portion 2|, an arm 22, a rear leg 23, a front leg 24 and a lower connecting member 25 between the front and rear legs. At the upper end of the front leg the tubular member is bent inwardly and connected to the forward curved portion of view looking from the right will be apparent that certain features of the 1 (Fig. 5) is hinged the arm. A 'rod'26 threaded to a plug in the end .of the tubular member extends through a pair of arcuate washers 28 surrounding the tubunut 29 on the end of the rod lar member and a clamps the parts rigidly together, the arcuate washers protecting. the sides of the tubular member against crushing strains. The otherv end of the tubular member,- forming a rear end of the frame member 2 I, is connected to the rear leg by a similar connection.

Being of tubular construction each side frame is relatively light in weight, particularly when formed from such a metal as aluminum, but the construction is such as to provide a rugged durable side frame capable of being easily and quickly formed from standard tubing.

A back frame 30 preferably shaped from a single piece of tubing is hinged at each side to each side frame, preferably by a hinge strap 3| having. a curved end 32 forming a pocket receiving the tubular side frame member, see Fig. 6, and fastened thereto by cross pin 34. 'Ihehinge strap is connected to the rear of the arm 22 by a hinge pin 35 extending through a spacing collar 35' located between the The lower end hinge strap and arm.

of the hinged back frame 30 to the rear end of a seat frame 36,'preferablyformed from an angle member, by a hinge pin 31 engaging an extension 38 formedon one flange of the angle. Each side of the seat frame is similarly connected to each side of the back frame,

As shown in Figs. 2, 7, and 10, the main seat frame angle 36 has secured thereto a slotted channel member 39 and serrations or teeth 40 are formed along the upper edge of the slot therein. The lower flange of the channel member rests on a seat supporting cross member 42, preferably of tubular form mounted between tubular seat supporting stanchions 43 extending upwardly from the lower frame member 25 connecting the front and rear legs of the side frame. The lower flange of eachslotted channel plate 39 slidably engages a tubular bearing washer 44. surrounding and tightly secured to the seat supporting tube 42 at each end thereof and formed of any suitable non-metallic wear resisting material such as a molded plastic, for e iample, that known under the trade name Formica," to take up wear and silence the sliding movement of the seat frame.

The lower end of each tubular stanchion member 43 seats in a groove 46 in the upper flat face of an arcuate washer 41, see Figs. 2 and 4, which embraces the top portion of the lower frame adjacent leg 24.

6| is also mounted on the inner rod 58 and en- -10 member 25 and cooperates with a lower arcuate washer 48 having a grooved lower face within which seats the upper end of a tubular chair supporting foot 49 the lower edge of which seats in a groove formed in a base plate 50. An inner 5 rod 5| having threaded ends extends through the stanchion assembly and the lower end is connected to a clamping screw 52, extending upwardly through the base plate 59, by a threaded connector sleeve 53. The upper end of each inner rod 5| in each stanchion is connected to a shouldered, threaded plug 54 fitting within the upper end of the tubular'stanchion 43. It will be apparent that the inner rod 5| which extends through perforations in the washers 41 and 48,

and in the cross frame member 25, provides a ,means for clamping the entire stanchion assembly rigidly together, through the medium of the end screw 52 in the base plate 59 at the bottom,

and the threaded plug 54 at the top of the assenibly.

Each end of the tubular seat-supporting cross member 42 is seated in across bore 55 in the ad-' jacent stanchion plug 54 and is pierced to receive the upper end of the associated inner rod 5|, see Fig. 7. The upper end of each stanchion member is tied to the adjacent front leg 24 of the associated side frame by a brace 56 which is bolted at one end to the associated stanchion plug 54 by a bolt 51 and at its front end is secured to the projecting end of an inner rod 58 extending through each front leg 24 of each side frame. spacer tube 59 surrounds the inner rod and ex'=- tends across the front of the seat betweenthe front leg members 24. At each end the spacer tube seatsin a circular groove formed in the face of an arcuate washer 58 which is strung on the inner rod 58 and which bears on one side of the A cooperating arcuate washer gages the other half of the front leg 24, the mem ber 56 being clamped against the flat outer face of the washer 6|.

It will also be apparent thatthe provision of washers fifl and 6| as illustrated in Fig. 3, and

the washers VH and 48 as illustrated in Fig. 4,

permit the different assemblies to be clamped rigidly together while at the same time protecting the hollow cross tubes, 24 in Fig. 3 and 25 in Fig. 4, against crushing strains, thus permitting 5 the use of the lightest weight material possible under the circumstances.

In moving the seat and back from one position to another, the channel plates 39 slide back and forth on the tubular washers 44. Lockin mechanism for securing the seat in the desired position against movement is provided. As illustrated in Figs. 2, and 7 to 10, this mechanism includes a rotatable locking tube 64 supported at each end in bearings 65 formed in the upper portions of the stanchion plugs 54. The tube extends through the 'slots in the channel plates 39.

. In each end of the locking tube is a plug 56 extending inwardly to a point beyond the channel plate 39. the locking tube 64 and engages the inner ends of eachplug 66 for maintaining the same in the proper position. Segments of the plug and locking tube adjacent the serrated edges 49 of the channel plate slots 4| are removed-to provide 70 tooth engaging portions 68 illustrated as shaped in the form of sectors of a circle within the slot and movable upon rotation of the locking tube 84 into and out of engagement with the teeth or serrations 40. It will be apparent that when the A spacer tube 81 is mounted within 65 resisting material such as a molded plastic, for

example, that known under the" trade name Formica," is bolted between the chair frame 35 and each channel plate 39. The loweredge of the wear member is serrated to correspond with he serrations 40 of the channel plate and extends slightly beyond the latterso that actual engagement of the tooth engaging portion 88 is with the wear plate 69 rather than with the edges 49 of the channel plates 39. This prevents'wear of the channel members and quiets the operation of the locking mechanism.

The locking mechanism is heldin the operative, locking position shown in Fig. 9 by any yieldable mechanism such as a coil spring Ill connected at one 'end'to any stationary part of the chair frame such as the rear legs 23, see Fig. 2, and at the other end is. connected to the locking tube 84 so as to yieldingly draw it into locking position. In Fig.7 the connection is shown as including an equalizer plate 1| connected to a leather cord or the like 12 passing around pins on the equalizer plate and having its ends wrapped round the locking tube 54.

the locking tube and'are fastened in any desired manner inside the tube.

' The operative and inoperative positions of the tube are determined by a cam 14 having a face I5 engaging the washer 44 when in locked position and a face 16 which engages the washer when in unlocked position. A link '11 connects a hand lever 18 mounted on the left hand side frame with the cam 14 so that lifting the lever will bring the cam face 16 into engagement with the washer 44 and rotate the locking tube to the unlocked position shown in Fig. 10 whereupon the seat can be adjusted'to the desired position, Upon release of the lever 18 the spring 10 rotates the locking tube and moves the cam face 15 into engagement with the washer 44, returning the parts to the locked position shown in Fig. 9.

Attention is directed to the fact that the face 19 of the locking portion 68 of the plug is at such an angle when in locking position as will permit the teeth or serrations onthe wear member 69 and channel plate 39 to' move to the right as shown in Fig. 9,.when pushed, without requiring the manual operation or rotation of the locking tube to the unlocked position, while positively preventing movement of the seat frame in the opposite direction. Due.-;tb the angle of the face 19, when the channel is moved to the right in Fig. 9, the serrated teeth will cam against the face 19 and rotate the tube 54 against the tension of the spring 10 to a position where the teeth can slide past the locking member. This permits the seat frame to be automatically and quickly pushedfrom one of the reclining positions to the normal upright position by the occupant without requiring the manual release of the locking mechanism. On the other hand, when in upright or in any other position, the seat frame can not be moved into reclining position, that is the channel plate-39 can not be moved to" the left in Fig. 9, without manually The ends of the cord extend through perforations 13 infinished appearance.

cam plate 14 above described. Collars I III areoperating the lever 18 and rotating the locking tube 64 to the unlocked position shown in Fig. 10.

The cam 14 being secured to the locking tube 64 by any suitable means such as the set screw.

88, see Fig. 8, acts as a thrust collar in engaging the face of the adjacent stanchion plug 54; The opposite end of the tube is provided with a thrust collar 8| engaging the face of the adjacent stanchion plug to act with cam 14 to prevent endwise movement of the locking tube in its supporting bearings.

A collar 82 is mounted on the locking tube so as to engage the inner face of each channel plate 39 and bear upon the inner face of the bottom flange so as to hold the latter in engagement with the washers 44 on the supporting cross tube 42. These collars 82 not only prevent the seat frame 36 from shifting sidewise, but also main tain the correct distance between the center of the locking tube about which the locking portions 88 rotate and the serrated locking teeth of the channel plate 39, as necessary to the proper functioning of the locking mechanism.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I illustrate, by way of example, a modified construction in which the sepa-' rate stanchions ii are done away with and a tubular seat supporting cross member is mounted directly upon the front legs of the chair frame.

As illustrated, a seat-supporting, tubular cross member 85 is mounted between the front legs 24. Each end of the cross member seats in a groove formed in the flat face of an arcuate washer 86 extending partially around the adjacent leg 24 and engaging a cooperating arcuate washer 81 extending around the outside of each leg and having acountersink 88 in the outer face thereof. The assembly is clamped rigidly together by an inner rod 89 extending through the cross tube 85, washers 86 and 81 and through perforations in the legs 24. Clamping nuts 90 in each countersink 88 serve to clamp the parts together and a finishing cap 9i having a flange 92- and having a driving fit within the secured to the locking rod 93 and cooperate with the channel plate 39 and the bottom flange thereof for preventing side shift of the seat frame and for properly positioning the locking portions 94 with relation to the cooperating teeth. It will be apparent that the operation of this locking mechanism is similar to that above described. Rotation of the locking rod 93 is accomplished by moving the crank handle 98. Also, the crank handle and collar 10 serve as thrust collars to prevent longitudinal shifting of the rod 93.

The tubular construction and arrangement of parts employed result in a product of extremely light weight without loss of durability or ruggedness of construction.

I claim: 1. An article of furniture comprising side .frames, seat-supporting means including an upright member mounted on .each side frame, a seat-supporting cross member mounted on said upright members, a seat frame .slidably supported by said cross member, means for locking said seat frame against movement including a locking plate secured thereto and having a serrated edge, a rotary locking member supported on said upright members and having means movable into,

and out of engagement with said edge, means for yieldingly moving said means into engagement with said serrated edge to lock said seat against movement, and means for manually rotating said member to move said means out of engagement 'with said edge to permit'movement .of said seat relative to said support.

countersink covers the nut 90 and provides a The seat frame 36, slotted channel plate 39 and serrated wear plates 69 are similar in construction and arrangement to the mechanism above described. The lower flange of the channel plate slidably engages washers 92 on each end of the cross tube 85,

the washers being shown as having a tight fit thereon.

A locking rod 93 having segments cut out to provide locking portions 94 where the -rod passes,

through the slots in the channel plates, is mounted at eachv end in a supporting bracket 95 fitting at one end within a slot 96 in the adjacent washer 86 and supported upon the inner rod 89 of the cross tube 85. The bracket is cut away at one side to form a bearing face 91 engaging washer 86 for holding the bracket in the desired position, as shown in Fig, 12. The locking rod 93 is positioned by the brackets 95 at one side, usually in front, of the chair legs 24. A crank arm or handle 98 is secured at one end of the rod for rotating it to unlocked position and a spring mechanism, not shown, but which may be similar to that described above is employed for yieldingly returning the rod to locking position. A pin 99 cooperates with a collar I00 for limiting rotation of the-locking rod 93 as shown in Fig. 12 in a manner corresponding to the a similar face along one side of the slot in the 2'. An article of furniture comprising spaced supporting members, a slidably mounted seat frame supported thereby, locking mechanism for locking said seat frame against movement including a slotted channel secured to said seat frame for movement therewith, a serrated edge in the slot of said channel, a rotary locking member mounted on said supporting members, extending through said slot and being formed as a sector of a circle within said slot to provide an edge engaging locking portion movable upon rotation of said member into and out of engagement with said serrated edge, and means maintaining the center of said rotary member in-predetermined position with relation to said edge,

3; An article of furniture comprising spaced uprights, a seat-supporting cross member mounted on and extending between said uprights) a seat frame slidably supported'by said cross member, means for locking said seat frame against movement including a slotted channel plate movof said rotary locking member in predetermined position relative to said edge. a rotating cam securedto said locking memberand having stop faces adapted to engage said supporting member for positioning said locking member in operative or inoperative position, and means for yieldingly holding said locking member in locking position and means formanually operating said cam to rotate said locking member to inoperative position.

4. An article of furniture comprising a seatsupporting frame, a seat frame slidably supported thereon, locking means for holding said seat frame against movement including a slotted member having a serrated locking face and mounted on one of said frames, and a rotary locking member mounted on the other of said frames and relatively movable with relation to said serrated face, a locking portion in the shape of a segment of a circle formed on said rotary member movable into and out of engagement with said serrated face, means for yieldingly holding said locking portion in engagement with to be moved freely in one direction only, and means for manually rotating said locking member to inoperative position against said yielding holding means to permit said seat frame tobe moved in the other direction.

5. An article of furniture comprising side frames, seat-supporting means located between said serrated face so as to permit said seat frame said side frames, a seat frame slidably mounted relative thereto, means for locking said seat frame in a, plurality of positions including a slotted plate having a serrated edge secured to and movable with said seat frame, a rotatable locking member extending through the slot in said plate and having a notch formed therein adjacent said serrated edge and means for rotating said locking member to position said notch adjacent said edge to permit movement of said seat or to move the unnotched portion into engagement with said edge to lock said seat against movement.

6. An article of furniture comprising side frames including spaced tubular members, a tubular cross member extending therebetween, means connecting each end of said tubular cross member to the associated side frame, a bracket mounted on and supported by each connecting means a seat frame slidably supported. relative to said cross member, a locking means on said seat frame, and a seat locking mechanism mounted on said brackets and movable into and out of locking engagement with the locking means on said seat frame to prevent movement thereof.

' WARREN McARTHUR. 

